The Lady’s Hand (A Dickings & Dalliances Adventure) - (Closed Except By Invitation)

[ICM8781]

I bow after Wylo performs his act, "Pleased to make your aquaintence, Sire Silvergleem" The freeness and confidence in his demeanor despite his lot and appearance demanded respect.

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite nodded back at Wylo. At this point he was staying true to the 'act' of still thinking he was an animal to a T and never wavering. She supposed it was indeed true his mind had been rotted away by transformation, which of course would make things harder. And of course Chasen, their new party member, could turn on them, but they were set in their group now. Hopefully this wizard at least would have a good plan for escape.

"All you need to know with me is I move fast and hit hard, very hard. I would suggest when we do move we see to protecting the wizard. If she dies in our escape I am sure we will be blamed for it," Sprite stated, in part pointing out the obvious.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

After nearly an hour of sitting in those cells, the wizard walked back in, this time carrying Arx’s pack over one shoulder and with her other arm cradling the cleric from before by the elbow.

“Are you sure about this, Amie?” the cleric asked in a rich but wavering alto, clearly nervous.

“Of course not, Maritia.” The wizard rolled her eyes. “That’s why you’re here. Do it.”

With a word from Maritia and a wave of her hand, the four prisoners feel an aura fall over the cells

 

[ICM8781]

"Is, uh, Maritia all right?"

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The cleric’s eyes widen.

“She’s doing great,” the wizard snaps. “And she certainly wouldn’t need any help from you.”

Maritia’s gaze softens, and she smiles over at the wizard, before focusing once again on the prisoners.

 

[Poprockz]

Arx looked rather nonchalant. She had felt the allure of that warm sensation, but it didn't have any effect on her. Perhaps the lady was trying to do an aura of truth or a seduction aura to keep them in line. It was obvious that it was either a test or an attempt to leash them. Either way, it was none of her concern.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

As the spell settles in, Maritia points at Sprite. “You can ask the harpy.”

Amie nods, her expression grave. “Do you know where The Lady of Rionne is?”

She pauses, then asks more questions. “Do you know why she’s missing? Do you know who took her?”

 

[ICM8781]

As I notice my new cell mates effected by some interesting aura I look into it. I can't see any harm being done, but at the same time I see reason to speak up.

"Amie, is it? Why are you interrogating them, particularly this intrusively? Seems like there would be better ways to find out a missing person."

I don't expect an honest answer, but fucking with someone being so rude to me seems fun, plus making her interrogation attempts harder seems like the least I can do for everyone.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

"Tz tz tz!" The wizard holds up a hand at Chasen, annoyed, but continues to wait for Sprite to answer.

 

[Poprockz]

Arx smiled at Chasen appreciatively. He didn't know them, but he seemed willing to play interference whether or not they were guilty. It showed a disregard for authority, and she was definitely behind that.

"It's okay," she shrugged at him. "Sprite doesn't know shit, so she'll only tell them what we've already told them."

 

[ICM8781]

"See what I'm saying, Amie? Yer wasting your time! I'm helping you out here." I reach through the bars to try to tap her shoulder and continue to annoy the shit out of her.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

“Then I would hear it from her!” the wizard growls, and a simple (though overpowered in Amie’s frustration) sleep spell would’ve been enough to quiet the scout, but in her anger she neglected to consider his elven heritage. So, with a glare the woman is back to waiting for the harpy to answer. The Zone of Truth is simply a necessary safeguard against being duped, but Baroness Buonnice won’t be conned into releasing anyone who actually worked with The Lady’s abductors.

 

[ICM8781]

Though Amie is out of reach I still try to wag my arm attempting to tag her shoulder. Snickering, I can't help but boast about the failure. Wins happen so infrequently in prison. "Did, uh, did you try to do something? *snicker* *snicker* Was that hand waving supposed to do something?"

 

[justspitballing]

After chuckling about the school yard style antics at play Sprite responded.

"We found out The Lady of Rionne was missing after you told us she was. She must of vanished after we left town. We have no idea who took her or where she is," Sprite stated.

She could feel the effects of the spell around her, but since she was never making up stories in the first place, the spell wasn't really impacting her. Of course she couldn't actually lie, but trying to was the farthest thing from her mind.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Amie’s expression softens. “And you have no knowledge of the captain’s plans?” She takes a step toward the cell. “Swear to me that you will make every effort to see The Lady returned to us, intact and alive. I’ll pay you three hundred gold coins if you do.”

 

[justspitballing]

"He's trying to kill us, that's a plan. Also he's trying to cover up his tracks," Sprite quipped back.

"The Lady of Rionne should not die by such ways, so if we can save her, if it isn't to late, we will. I don't think the payment is fair given all we have gone through, but I don't let people die," Sprite nods, hoping that was good enough for them.

 

[Poprockz]

During the conversation and Chasen’s antics, Arx had inconspicuously shifted into a halfling, casually shrugged off her shackles and chains. She stepped away from them, giving her arms a nice stretch and yawning before shifting back into the auburn-haired beauty she was a moment ago. It was nice to have freedom of movement- especially after a week of such constraints,

The woman walked back up to the bars.“Yeah, we don’t know what his deal is. It’s not like he kidnapped the Lady of Rionne to force her to marry her!” Arx laughed, slapping her thigh. It was a ridiculous notion, especially since the phallus didn’t seem to fit into it in any way.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Amie nods to Maritia, who begins rifling through the contents of a nearby desk, then lifts Arx’s pack out in front of her chest. “Well, I’n sorry I didn’t believe you at first, but whatever his plan is, let’s fucking do this.”

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Maritia opens the cell doors and begins removing manacles (other than Arx’s).

 

[ICM8781]

"So, em, You gonna let your secret keeper stretch his legs?" Chasen says with a cocky smirk. He then makes a fake pout and quivers his lips. "Come ooooonnnn. You know you want to. Or at least want to keep the capitan from knowing for as long as you can."

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite felt at her wrists. The freedom was amazing. Her body was not meant to be restrained. With her being free she walked out of the cell the moment she could, drawing out her wings.

"I will be stretching on the winds above, if that is where we are headed. You'll have to lead the way wizard," Sprite said with a cheerful smile.

"Now, where is my axe?"

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Maritia unlocks Chasen's cage, and Amie retrieves Sprite's axe. Maritia also hands Wylo a pair of pants, and he reluctantly pulls them on.

"Fuck," the wizard gulps. "Alright, whatever he's planning he'll have to bring her in through the city gate, so first we'll go to the garrison and assign some of the Rhounen army under my command to guard the gates. Then, we'll head to his estate and search the place for an kind of clue as to where he's headed."

Though there is an unexpected bustle in the streets, the walk to the garrison is uneventful, but as soon as Amie gives her directions to her soldiers, a man in white silk shorts and a long, open-front robe in the same material walks in out of breath. His toned, bare chest is heaving as he puts his hands on his knees. "Maritia! I thought all the clerics of the Lightfather were at the ceremony?"

The cleric looks up at him in confusion. "Ceremony? What cer--?"

"This is fortunate!" he interrupts. "We need help at the temple of the Expectant! There's a devil loose in the temple!"

 

[Poprockz]

Really? There was no surprise, nor any gasps of shock? Even though she had changed without any fanfare there was usually a little more interest. It made her feel a bit put-out which confused her. Why should she care whether they were impressed or not? Still, it was like having a party trick that had been used at too many parties.

The changeling crossed her arms and kicked a rock gently, pouting slightly as she followed them.

She perked up at the mention of getting down to business- rummaging through that ass’s belongings sounded like her idea of a good time.

“A devil? Don’t they have to be summoned or something? How did it waltz into a temple?” She raised her eyebrows in curiosity.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The man looks at Arx, unsure who she is or what any of the adventurers are doing in the garrison, then he sees Amie and his eyes brighten. "Baroness! You're who I came for, but the truth is we need all the help we can get."

As if just realizing how true that is, he turns to Arx. "I, er, I believe so, but I'm only an acolyte. I can't explain it, but I saw it myself. Nasty thing, covered in spikes!"

 

[ICM8781]

Chasen stops by the locker real quick to grab his things. Old and dusty, but still in good order. He almost loses the group as he makes the stop, but rushes in quickly realizing he's better off with them than out on his own. Who knows what's going on in the world since his absence. I reach there just in time to hear about the Devil.

"Yes, and doesn't something need to bind them to this plane?" Chasen hastens to say, "Not ready to tackle, yet. Listen I've only been out of prison for like 10 minutes and you're already pointing my life at risk. How about we take a breather at the pub, have a shot or eight, check out the brothel services for a sec, at least for me it's been so long that's all the time I'll need, THEN we can rush all in to our doom, huh?"